Bernie has high expectations of Mercedes
Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone expects Mercedes to improve in the 2013 season with the signing of former world champion Lewis Hamilton and new team leaders.
"I expect Marcedes to be much stronger. Lewis will be a contender, and if Mercedes are good then Nico (Rosberg) will also have a chance," Ecclestone told Friday's edition of Austrian paper Salzburger Nachrichten.
"I would be disappointed if Mercedes wouldn't be high up there."
The Briton Hamilton joins Mercedes from McLaren, replacing record world champion Michael Schumacher who returned into retirement after three modest years at the team.
Mercedes also have a new head of the board in ex-champion Niki Lauda, and Toto Wolff has taken over from Norbert Haug as motorsport chief. Ecclestone expects them to bring in new ideas to strengthen the team which finished fifth in the 2012 constructors' standings.
